Patients and items of equipment weigh
30-40 times more than their static mass in collision conditions;
therefore inadequately restrained patients and equipment can result
in severe or fatal injuries to the patient and/or ambulance
officers.

ADR
42/00 states:

"Any internal or external fittings are illegal if they are
likely to increase injuries of vehicle occupants".

All internal cargo that shares space with
the vehicle occupants must be restrained.

ASE's Equipment, Patient & Stretcher
Restraints
undergo extensive
testing to ensure they not only perform the function for which they
were designed, but also meet all legislated Standards and associated
Design Rules. It is important that the tested stretcher
remains attached to the ambulance floor, and the test dummy
restrained to the stretcher using a specially developed patient
harness.